Material-handling means



July 16, 1929. R, COOP-ER 1,721,002

MATERIAL HANDLING MEANS Filed Jan. 23, 1928 Patented July 16, 1929. i

ROBERT COOPER, OF SCRANTN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE HUDSON i COAL COMPANY, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MATERIAL-HANDLING MEANS.

Application ined January 23, 192

The invention relates primarily to traveling belts and chutes leading thereto for supplying coal to said belts. As long as the coal slides down a chute onto the subjacent belt, in comparatively small quantity, it is guided substantially uniformly onto said belt by a pair of wing boards which project from the lower end of the chute over the longitudinal edg'e portions of the belt, but when a large quantity of coal rushes down the chute, for instance, when discharged into the latter from a rotary car dump, the belt is not uniformly loaded but at that time receives an excess of coal. Hence, the strain upon the belt is excessive at times to its severe detrinient.

It is the object of my invention to provide the above-named wing boards with deflectors spaced outwardly from the discharge end et the chute, toward the delivery end ot' the belt, so that coal in small quantity may discharge from said chute onto said belt without necessarily coming in contact with said dcflectors. Upon rush of a large quantity of coal down the chute, however, the coal is checked by these dellectors and is gradually and uniformly distributed along the belt, so that the latter is relieved of excessive strain.

lt is another object of the invention 'to form the deliectors of resilient nature to avoid breakage ot' large lumps of coal, due to the fact that these deilectors will yield outwardly under pressure. Furthermore, their ability to yield in this manner prevents jamming of the aperture between them, by large lumps which could not pass through such aperture without this yieldable characteristic of the deiiectors.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawing.

F ig. l is a top plan view of a material handling apparatus improved in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the correspondingly numbered line ot' F ig. l`

The drawing above briefly described, illustrates the preferred form of construction and while this construction will be herein ex plained, it is to be understood that within the scope-of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

Serial No. 248,766.

The numeral 3 denotes'a belt which travels in the direction of the arrow in Figf 2, and A has reference to a chute which declines to said belt. Continuous with the side walls 5 of the chute 4f, are laterally spaced wing boards 6 whose outerends 7 are usually decreased in height. The lower and upper edges ofthe wing boards 6 are stiftened by angle metal bars 8 9 respectively, which also extend along the upper and lower portions of the chute l, the horizontal flanges of the bars 8 extending inwardly under the lower edges of the wing boards 6, whereas the horizontal flanges of the bars 9, project outwardly from the upper edges of said wing boards.

The wing boards 6 project outwardly beyond the lower end of the bottom l0 of the chute 4land are provided with inwardly projecting detlector plates 11 spaced outwardly from said lower end of the bottom l0, toward the delivery end of the belt 3. The vertical edge portions of the plates 11, toward the chute 4, are secured against the inner sides ot the rivets or the like 12 and from these secured edges, the plates converge toward the aforesaid delivery end of the belt 3, the free edges of said plates being curved outwardly at 13. Spring steel is preferably used in constructing the plates l1, permitting them to yield outwardly, although other provision could be made for attaining this end.

As long as coal in small quantity is sliding down the chute 4, it is received upon the belt 3, in the space between the deiiectors 11 and the chute bottom l0. When a large quantity o coal rushes down said chute, for instance from a rotary car dump, this quantity of coal is arrested in its discharge movement, by the detlector plates 1l and is permitted to travel on with the belt, only in prede` termined quantity, uniformly distributed along said belt, so that the latter cannot be overloaded at one point or another. Any large lumps of coal striking the plates 11 will not be broken by them, in view of the fact that they may outwardly yield. Moreover, any lumps too large to pass between said plates, will merely cause outward yielding of them, permitting passage, instead of clogging' the aperture between the ends 18. Excellent results are obtainable from the general construction shown and it may therewing boards 6 by fore be followed if desired. However, as above stated, variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim 1. In a heavy-material handling means having a traveling belt, a chute declining to said belt, and laterally spaced wing boards projecting beyond the lower end of the chute bottom toward the discharge end of the belt; material-distributing delectors carried by said wing boards and projecting inwardly therefrom, said deliectors being adjacent to but spaced toward said discharge end of the belt from said lower end of the chute bottom, whereby to permit material sliding down said chute in small quantity to discharge onto said belt and pass between the delectors without necessarily striking the latter, but to arrest any rush of material in large quantity and allow that checked between said deflectors and the chute bottom to rest on the belt to be gradually carried off by the latter.

2. A structure as specified in claim l; said deflectors converging toward the delivery end of said belt.

3. A structure as specified in claim l; cach of said deflectors consisting of a vertically disposed plate secured at one edge to the adjacent wing board and having its opposed vertical edge directed outwardly, the two plates converging toward the delivery end of said belt.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1; said dellectors being outwardly yieldable.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ROBERT COOPER. 

